We can all vividly remember surrendering our in-office work life as the pandemic surged, though I bet none of us thought remote work would become a new reality. Over 50% of companies are now fully remote and that has prompted the relocation of their employees as a daily office visit is no longer necessary. Major cities like New York and Los Angeles registered their lowest annual growth in a decade. However, some employees found themselves in a pickle when their employer decided that they would return to in-office work, and they are no longer located within a reasonable commute. If this happened to you, how did you handle the change? Was your boss flexible in letting you continue remote or were you forced to find a new position? Relocating is something that has become a very real possibility if you feel it’s right for you. Have you considered it?

According to studies performed by USPS, over 15 million people moved during the pandemic. It can be assumed that those who made the move could safely assume they would not be returning to the office. If you are still working remotely and you are contemplating relocation, we suggest you get a feel for what the future of your company looks like. Is there talk of going back in the office or does your boss express no concern for this matter? Keep in mind the location you may be relocating to. How prevalent is your industry there? Unfortunately, as stated previously, some employees have been forced to find new employment due to their move as their company decided to go back in-office and you need to know what sort of opportunities would be available to you if you ran into the same situation. Though your goal would likely be to remain remote, that may not be an option that is readily available to you. Over 9 million people lost their job as a result of the pandemic. Not all companies could feasibly offer remote work and the ones who could likely kept on as many employees as they could who are likely still employed in those roles. That being said, fully remote opportunities may not be as easy to come by as you anticipate.

Having the flexibility to relocate will offer you a more extended list of opportunities as a job seeker. We realize that relocation is not an option for everybody, but if it is an option for you, what factors have you considered? The first thing to consider is if your relocation would be location-specific. Would you only want to relocate somewhere sunny and warm, or would you relocate to wherever the best opportunity takes you? If you are in a job search and you have your relocation narrowed down to a specific location, try reaching out to local recruiting companies to let them know of your interest and availability. If you submit your resume on any job boards, simply mark yourself as relocatable (either to a specific location or just relocatable in general). Keep in mind that your salary requirements will likely change depending on location. You may require a higher or lower salary depending on the cost of living but knowing where you need to be financially is a need-to-know factor in deciding on relocation. If you are placing applications to positions that would require your relocation, be prepared to answer questions regarding the timeframe of relocation. Are you moving there at a specific date, or are you waiting to move until an opportunity presents itself? Ask what relocation flexibilities that company may offer as some offer relocation reimbursements, etc. Always remain open and honest regarding the details of your relocation as the last thing you want is to have a miscommunication that would result in a missed start date or a drawn-out relocation process.

Ultimately, having the opportunity to relocate could help you in your job search. If you are relocating to the Capital Region and beyond, give us a call at (518) 275-4816 or submit an application to www.walrathrecruiting.com where we are happy to help find your perfect fit!

 

 

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